Sports Illustrated and Empower Onyx are putting the spotlight on the diverse journeys of Black women across sports—from the veteran athletes, to up-and-coming stars, coaches, executives and more—in the series, Elle-evate: 100 Influential Black Women in Sports.
Vicky Free grew up believing anything was possible. It’s this mentality with which she credits her transition from her own, self-described “humble beginnings” in the American South to her current position as senior vice president of global marketing for Adidas in Germany. And though she’s the first Black woman to hold the position at the powerhouse sports brand, she’s focused on creating more opportunities for Black girls and women to be able to access high-stakes roles, harness true decision-making power and know that impossible is, really, nothing.